Combined shelf and exhibitor



(No Mo-del.)

L. A. ELY.

COMBINED SEELE A ND EXHIBITOR.v No. 373,447. Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVY/'ELLENA A. ELY, OF MUIR, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED SHELF AND EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,447, dated November 22, 1887.

Application tiled March 17, 1887. Serial No. 231.2%. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/f Be it known that I, LEwELLEN A.. ELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muir, in the county of' Ionia and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Show-Stands; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to show stands or shelves for displaying goods in stores; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of the stand. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection through the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the supporting-wires.

A are uprights, securely mortised into the feet a, so that they will stand upon a iioor, and connected together at the top by the top piece, af, and by the shelf a2, situated at about the level of an ordinary table above the floor. The top piece, a', and shelf a2 both Aproject an equal distance at the rear, and B is a curtain nailed to their rear edges. This curtain is formed of holland or other material which will form a suitable background to the shelves behind the goods. The front part of the shelf a2 extends considerably in front of the uprights and may be used as a table, desk, or counter. The front of the top piece, a', extends slightly beyond the uprights, and to it are fastened the brackets c, having the roller-curtain C journaled in them. This curtain is made of any suitable material commonly used for that pur pose, and the roller may be a springroller or be made to work in any other approved manner.

D is a partition extending vertically between the shelf and the top piece, midway between the two uprights. More than one of these partitions can be used, if desired.

The shelves are formed of rodse and e',which are preferably metallic wires. The rods e are placed singly one above the other at a convenient distance apart at the rear of the uprights,

' suitable holes being bored through the uprights and through the partition for their passage. Each rod e has a head, e2, upon one end and a nut, e3, on the other end for tightening it up and firmly bracing the uprights. The rods e are placed in pairs at the front between the uprights and in horizontal line with the rods e. The rods c' may have heads and nuts the same as rods e; but it is preferable to form them double with a loop, et, at one end, as shown in Fig. 3. This show-rack may be built into or against a wall, or it may be made portable, as shown in the drawings. It is specially adapted for the display ofbuttons, gloves, hosiery, and other goods which are put up in boxes, but may be used for bundles of yarn, Zephyr, and other articles as well.

The boxes of buttons are uncovered and placed in the rack, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the lower end of each box rcst ing upon the two rods e of one row, while the rear of the box is supported by the single rod e of the next row above. This exposes the lower half of the top card of buttons in each box for inspection,while the box above covers the back or upper half.

Boxes may be rested horizontally upon the rods, as also shown in Fig. 3, or bundles or Zephyr may be kept upon the shelves in the saine Way.

The curtain at the back keeps out the dust and the spring-curtain serves the same purpose in front, and is easily rolled up to exhibit the goods.

This rack is very simple and cheap to 'construct and holds the entire stock in fu'll View of the customer. Every remnant or single dozen is plainly in view and the labor of reaching down box after box for separate inspection on the sale-counter is greatly reduced.

What I claim is-- l. In a show-stand, the combination of the vertical uprights, the single rods e, placed one above the other at the rear between the uprights, and the rods e', placed in pairs at the front in horizontal line with the single rods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a show-stand, the combination of the vertical uprights provided with feet, the top piece, and the shelf secured between the uprights, the single rods e, and the double rods e', passing through holes at the rear and front of the uprights, respectively, and provided IOO loops e4, and one or more intermediate parti# tions, D, the said uprights and partitions being provided with holes at rear and front for the passage of the rods e and e', substantially- `as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a show-stand, the combination of the Vertical uprights, the top piece, and the shelf secured between the uprights, the single rods e and double rods e', passing through holes at the rear and front of the uprights, respect ively, the curtain B, secured at the rear of the shelves, and the roller-curtain journaled vin 2o brackets secured to the top piece in front, substantially as andifor the purpose set forth.

5. In a show-stand, the Combination of the vertical uprights, the top piece, and the shelf secured between the uprights, the Wire rods 25 for shelving, the supporting-partitions, the curtain fastened at the rear, the rolling ourtain at the front, and the nuts holding the uprights and shelving in position, substantially as and for the lpurpose, set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnessesv LEWELLEN A. ELY.

Witnesses:

HENRY V. STALEY, ARTHUR KNAPP. 

